It is without doubt on all of our minds to get out and enjoy the outdoors with the warmer weather creeping in and we need to be fully equipped. As much as we can rely on the elements to bring us sunshine in the coming weeks, we are still seeing bits of rain, wind and rogue snowy days creeping in across the country.
Men’s outerwear for us, has to be durable and reliable- and these three brands in particular prove to be on top for our reviews team. Our male reviewers put some of the biggest brands to the test to compare each and we found that sometimes that quality is not always at an expense.
Columbia, Regatta and Hoka are just a handful of brands we have taken a look at for our Spring adventures and here’s what we found.
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Columbia
Fashion and beauty writer Eve Rowlands loves a hike now and again, but it’s her dad who is the die hard walking enthusiast – so it was no surprise that when he got the chance to try a raincoat and fleece from iconic outdoor brand Columbia and test out their abilities to withstand the wily Welsh weather, he was well excited. Living in Wales, when you’re a keen walker you are in dire need of a coat and layers that’ll not only keep out light (and slightly heavier) showers, but also coastal and mountainous winds.
They are icy, blistering and shockingly inconsistent when Mother Nature wants them to be so it’s essential to have good quality outdoor wear. Thankfully, Columbia has made quite the name for itself when it comes to providing top quality garments that’ll protect you from the elements – such as the Men’s Ampli-Dryâ„¢ II Waterproof Hiking Shell Jacket, £155, and the Men’s Helvetiaâ„¢ Streetwear Fleece, £65. The latter is a versatile half-snap fleece from the Icons collection that is made up of Sherpa Pile 100% polyester and is lightweight, plush and great for hiking or cosying up at home.
The former is a waterproof breathable hiking shell jacket that is crafted with Omni-Techâ„¢ waterproof technology, making it breathable but fully sealed from the rain, and features a bonded hood brim, chin guard, zippered chest and hand pockets, adjustable hem and sleeve cuffs plus it’s got comfort stretch.
Testing them out on a coastal walk, Eve’s dad said about the pieces: “I took the Men’s Ampli-Dryâ„¢ II Waterproof Hiking Shell Jacket out on a blustery, wet day on the coast. It was lightweight but kept out the sea-spray and cold edge of wind. The sleeves were a bit long but that wasn’t an issue as they were adjustable and velcro’d at the cuffs. There was a pocket that opened to let out the heat under the arms and a handy breast pocket too, big enough for phone or a small map. No downpour to waterproof test but in the damp air and light rain it was perfect.
“It has all the quality of a heavier jacket but is more manageable and stylish. It’s a great addition to any outdoor kit and would easily slip into a back pack thanks to its ability to be compacted into the hand pocket. The Helvetiaâ„¢ Streetwear Fleece was functional and stylish as well as warm, light, fitted well – and was a perfect partner for the jacket. It had a four popper collar which gives you options for how to wear it in the changeable UK weather. The colour was good [Canoe, Salmon Rose, Cloudburst] and I felt nice and cosy wearing it. It kept out the cold too when the jacket was off”.
All in all, it’s safe to say Eve’s father was well and truly impressed with his Columbia outdoor adventure gear.
Get the jacket here for £155 and the fleece here for £65.
Charlie, Reviews Editor Stacey Dutton’s partner, also tried a Columbia jacket to test it’s water/wind proof qualities and so good so far.
Charlie has worn the Columbia Men’s Wyldwoodâ„¢ Waterproof Hiking Shell for a handful of quite treachurous walks with Ruby (our beloved Labradoodle Puppy) and he has alot to say about.
The fit is great and the body fitting ‘active fit’ is a great, comfortable size for exercising without feeling restricted. One thing. One thing I will say about it is whiel it is lightweight and packable, it really does keep heat in, so on a rainy yet warm day, I still felt I needed to take it off and opt for just tying it around my waist or putting it in my packpack. For £250, I do think it’s a little pricey but only time will tell if it is durable enough for me to use for many years and still does as it should and keep me dry while out on adventures with the family.
I love the colour of it- I’m glad I chose this one rather than the Black as it seems much more on trend for when I want to wear it through all seasons. At first I wasn’t that keen on the material but it’s massively grown on me, it doesn’t feel too much like a hiking jacket and abit more of a stylish look.
I also like how it can be easily wiped, with our puppy still jumping up for attention, I have been able to give it a wipe down between walks. It’s peripheral hood adjustment means it can have many uses for our different days out and the drawcord adjustable hem is a gamechanger- I like that I can make it look more fitting when only wearing a thin t shirt underneath.
Buy the Columbia Men’s Wyldwoodâ„¢ Waterproof Hiking Shell here for £250.
With a remarkable weight-to-cushion ratio, the Kaha 2 GORE-TEX delivers peak performance with peak plushness. Updated with a HUBBLE® heel with SwallowTail™ geometry, this durable hiker features Vibram® Megagrip with Traction Lug for increased ground contact.
Regatta
Content Editor Sam Jones tried out one of Regatta’s hooded fleeces.
I used to laugh at my dad for his love of fleeces. I spent most of my teenage years and 20s donning all manner of hoodies. But since I turned 30 I’ve realised I’m slowly turning into him, and now share his love of outdoor wear.
Regatta is a brand I’ve been keen on in the past thanks to its reasonable prices but decent quality. I’ve found that while some premium brands do boast good quality, Regatta has been a very solid affordable option. So I was intrigued to try out the Men’s Cadford VI Hooded Fleece, which at £80 (currently £55.95 in the sale) is a bit pricier than anything I’ve had from the brand before – and I have to say it’s a very nice piece of outerwear.
Depending on the brand and sizing I’d typically go for an XL, but having previous experience with Regatta I opted for a 2XL – and I’m glad I did. I’m pretty tall and hate that feeling where clothing is slightly too short, which is a problem plenty of men over six foot face. But the 2XL is the perfect length, and while the arms are ever so slightly long, it’s no big deal.
The first thing to note is that it’s really stylish. I loved the colour and look which offers a lot more brightness than many of the other jackets in my wardrobe. It has nice big pockets too to keep your phone and wallet in while you’re out and about, plus a chest pocket.
Crucially, they have zips, something that weirdly seems to be disappearing from many pockets these days. I always like the extra security of knowing your phone and wallet aren’t going to fall out while you’re out for a walk.
Be warned though, for all it’ll be handy over summer the pockets are a mesh material that let the air in, so don’t expect them to keep your hands particularly warm over the winter months.
The logo is also one of those that’s stuck on, I prefer it when these are stitched on so they don’t eventually wear off, but more brands seem to be going down this route these days. Alternatively, there are lots of stylish fleeces on Jack Wolfskin.
Buy the Men’s Cadford VI Hooded Fleece from Regatta for £55.95 here.
Hoka
Reviews Editor Stacey Dutton recently got a new puppy, and it seemed her partner Charlie needed a new rig out for taking on the puppy power walks each day. We have always been the keen outdoorsy type so had some items weather proof enough for a walk, but for us to get through these very wet and miserable rainy days the UK has graced us with recently, it seemed fitting to try out some new brands for size- and first up was Hoka.
Since getting our new Labradoodle Puppy Ruby, Charlie realised just how desperate he was for some walking boots as none of his trainers would fit the bill. With dog walking daily and those lengthier, painfully muddy walks at the weekends, it goes without saying that we both really did need better footwear- and Hoka seemed to have the perfect walking boots- here’s why.
We went away last month to Castell Dinas Brân, Llangollen for my birthday and Charlie worn the Kaha 2 GORE-TEX for the 15,000 uphill hike, and they didn’t give him any reason to complain. The hike consisited of an uphill, muddy, puddle-ful walk which at some points my worn down trainers really suffered, while Charlie boasted of waterproof, comfortable, ankle-supporting boots the whole way.
Charlie cannot get enough of the Kaha 2 GORE-TEX, but with a hefty price tag of £190, we know we have to prove why they are worth every penny. The Hoka website boasts that the Kaha boot boast’s “remarkable weight-to-cushion ratio”, which Charlie whole heartedly agrees with. We live nearby quite a lovely canal walk where we can trek through fields, up hill, along muddy walkways and Charlie can still feel comfort in this Hoka boot, even claiming they are ‘the comfiest boots he’s ever owned’. As someone who has bought his fair share of walking/hiking/treking boots, it’s quite a bold statement.
From switching between lightweight trainers while picking a new pair of boots, Charlie couldn’t believe how comfortable they actually are- they didn’t feel too heavy, too chunky and noticed they are extremely breathable even with a thicker pair of socks- this durable hiker features Vibram® Megagrip with Traction Lug for increased ground contact.
Buy the Kaha 2 GORE-TEX here for £190.
Content Editor Sam Jones also tried out a pair of Hoka boots, here’s what he thought.
Having two dogs, I cover lots of miles out walking each week. And thanks to the great British weather it’s a pretty muddy affair.
So I was delighted to have the opportunity to try out Hoka’s Anacapa 2 Mid GORE-TEX. I’ve had what I consider to be the king of walking boots, a pair made by North Face, that have lasted me an insane amount of time – around six years – and still perform like they did when they were brand new.
As such, I haven’t felt the need to replace them, but was intrigued to try out some Hokas, having heard good things. The first thing to note is that they’re really lightweight for a pair of boots.
When the box first arrived I thought I must have been sent the wrong thing, it was that light. As you might expect, it means they’re great when you’re walking as they don’t have that bulky feel some of the traditional boots have.
You might think that lightweight feel means they’re a bit flimsy, but you’d be mistaken. They still seem to put up with the rigours of tricky walkways and muddy paths with ease.
Having gone through my fair share of puddles over recent weeks too, I can say they’re nice and waterproof. The soles also have a really solid grip to them, preventing falls over rough terrain.
On the downside, the laces aren’t of the quality I’d expect from this price range. After only wearing them a few times they had started to fray a bit, so I imagine it won’t be long before they need replacing. I also found the toe area a tad uncomfortable on the first couple of walks but this seemed to soften as I’ve bedded them in and they’re now really comfy.
Will these last six years like my last ones? Only time will tell. Alternatively, Go Outdoors stocks a range of walking boots.
You can buy the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GORE-TEX for £160 here.
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